Gary Bettman pushed to make major change involving Johnny Gaudreau

Fans have been devoted to to remember Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, paying their respects and looking to keep their memories alive. They were put to rest on Monday, and now fans are hoping the NHL and its commissioner Gary Bettman will step up to make a major change involving the older brother, Johnny Gaudreau, a star player for more than a decade in the league.

Despite his small stature, Johnny Gaudreau played the game with the biggest heart there was and his sportsmanship topped the list of attributes that made him a superstar on the ice. The Lady Byng Trophy was first awarded in the 1924-25 season and 100 years later, it feels like the right time to change its name. Johnny Gaudreau won the trophy for the 2016-17 campaign and now petitions are circulating on social media for the league to name the trophy after Gaudreau.

One of them is getting some traction, though one is getting over 300 signatures and needs your name on it.

The Lady Byng Trophy is given to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”, and I feel it perfectly describes Johnny Gaudreau. It would be a perfect way to honour him.

When asked about the possibility to rename the trophy to honour Gaudreau, NHL deputy commander Bill Daly told Michael Russo of the Athletic: 

"Anything that is done in that vein — and that’s not the first time I’ve heard that suggestion with respect to some of the other great all-time players — we would go to the general managers probably first, and we probably would need board approval second. I don’t think any of those ideas have been raised from time to time. I would say they’ve been kicked around from time to time. Never really gained a whole lot of traction. So I wouldn’t want to handicap what the prospects of the change in trophy names would look like."

At this point, no one is officially reporting whether or not the league is considering the move, but given the outpouring of love given to Gaudreau by fans, former teammates and executives, it just feels like this would be the right move to make.
Come on Gary, the ball is in your court.